Rescued — Electrocution Victim

A few days ago we received a call from some concerned locals that had found a male long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) next to a busy road, he had been electrocuted and had fallen to the ground. The team headed out to help this monkey, he was taken straight back to the WFFT Wildlife Hospital for urgent treatment.

The long-tailed macaque is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species, in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, occurrence in a number of protected areas. Although it is under heavy hunting pressure for the pet trade, meat, sport and trophies, this is not considered a major threat to the species overall. Females are often taken into breeding facilities and males are exported internationally primarily for use in laboratory research. They are regularly persecuted as pests. Habitat loss is also a localised threat, but the species can persist in a variety of habitats and are very adaptable.

Injuries caused in human-built environments are common often due to the active promotion of their presence for spiritual and entertainment purposes by provisioning food for the macaques. We (humans) both promote population growth through the provision of food and the protection habitat, but on the other hand we hinder it through the continued fragmentation of their habitat, and the capture and exportation for research, and the pet-trade.

After spending a few days under intensive care at the WFFT Wildlife Hospital, he is sitting up, climbing around his recovery cage and is eating well. However, he is not out of the woods yet. We will keep you updated his progress. We hope that he will be able to return back to the wild soon.